Donald Trump: Mitt Romney ‘would have dropped to his knees’ for my endorsement

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PORTLAND, Maine -- Donald Trump struck back at 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney Thursday, blasting the former Massachusetts governor for "begging" for his endorsement four years ago only to sharply criticize him now.

"I don't know what happened to him," Trump said during a rally in Portland, Maine. "You can see how loyal he is. He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees.' He would have dropped to his knees."

"Think of Donald Trump's personal qualities, the bullying, the greed, the showing off, the misogyny, the absurd third grade theatrics," he said. "We have long referred to him as 'The Donald.' He is the only person in America to whom we have added an article before his name. It wasn't because he had attributes we admired."

Trump went on an extended rant about Romney, while also making time to jab at Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom the brash billionaire will face off against during a debate Thursday night.

"Mitt is indeed a choke artist," Trump said. "He choked like I've never seen anyone choke. Other than Rubio."

Trump also said that his net worth is more than Romney's, claiming that one of his New York properties alone is worth more than the former Massachusetts' governor's net worth.

The real estate mogul also continued to reject Romney's claim that Trump could have a "bombshell" in his tax returns, which he has not released, citing an ongoing audit.

Trump did not have all bad things to say about the Romneys, however, praising Mitt's wife Ann as "a lovely woman."